A new line of activewear wants women to exercise with confidence, even when it’s “that time of the month.”
Designed to manage heavy periods, light bladder leakage and “other dampness,” Flow 2 Freedom’s full-length leggings, cropped pants and shorts boast patent-pending linings that absorb up to two tampons’ worth of liquid without the hassle of bulky pads or embarrassment of the dreaded VBL—visible panty lines.
With a design that “ensures style and functionality,” each piece offers not just one but two pockets: a large one on the side and another “hidden” option within the high waistband for stashing a credit card or keys.
“I named our first collection Exhale because for the first time, I can actually exhale while having my period,” Josephine Kwan, founder and CEO of the Vancouver-based startup, said in a statement. “Our apparel can bring back women’s confidence both when being active or as very comfortable leisure wear.”
Mother Nature can breathe a little easier, too. Flow 2 Freedom uses recycled polyester derived from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and each pair of pants is composed of six bottles’ worth of material. Technical properties like four-way stretch, moisture wicking and odor resistance aside, all its pants protect up to SPF 50, Kwan said. Plus, they’re meant to mold to the body in a way that flatters the form.
“Let’s face it, we may not feel great when we have our period but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look good,” she added. “Our line was designed with your curves in mind. The high waist holds everything in while our seam line lifts and shapes your butt.”
Prices start at $88 for the short and top out at $168 for the full-length legging.
Flow 2 Freedom joins brands like Thinx that are designing purpose-built garments specifically to accommodate menstruation—a topic once taboo that’s starting to become mainstream.